Rockets defeated but still number one

KELOWNA - The number one ranked Kelowna Rockets don't seem to be running out of fuel, though the team did take a hit last night in their game against the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The Rockets were defeated 4-2 in Edmonton—a disappointing start to a stretch of six straight games on the road—but the game was hard fought.

The Rockets outshot Edmonton 45-37, but Oil Kings' netminder Tristan Jarry was on top of it, turning aside the Rockets most of the night.

There were a few other standouts. Rocket Myles Bell scored his team-leading 24th goal of the season and Carter Rigby had his 11th for the Rockets who lost lost just their fifth game in regulation, in falling to 33-5-0-2 on the season.

The game was tied 1-1 after the first period and despite outshooting the Oil Kings 16-6 in the second period, Edmonton had the only goal and led 2-1 after two periods before pulling ahead 3-1 in the third.

Bell's power play marker gave the Rockets a chance but they couldn't muster the equalizer and Edmonton scored into the empty net.

Jordon Cooke took the loss in net and was solid again in a losing cause.

There was also movement on the Rockets' roster. They've acquired a 20-year-old impact forward and have also traded a veteran player in two separate Western Hockey League transactions on Wednesday.

The team will welcome 20-year-old Slovakian forward Marek Tvrdon who'll say goodbye to the Vancouver Giants. The aquisition is in exchange for a second round bantam draft pick in 2014.

To make room for Tvrdon on the Rockets roster, Kelowna traded 20-year-old Zach Franko to the Kootenay Ice for a sixth round bantam draft pick in 2014 as well as a third round pick in 2016.

"Zach has been here for four years and it was very difficult but we felt we needed to add some size," said Kelowna Rockets president/GM Bruce Hamilton. "We'd like to thank Zach for his four years of service with our team and wish him the best in the future."

Tvrdon, a 4th round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2011, had been playing this season in the ECHL where he had posted nine goals and four assists in 22 games with the Toledo Walleye.

"We are getting a player that is bigger and will add some size and skill," said Hamilton of Tvrdon.

Tvrdon is expected to join the Rockets on its current road trip. The team is idle on Thursday before continuing its Alberta road swing in Lethbridge on Friday, Medicine Hat on Saturday and Calgary on Sunday.

The Rockets number one ranking was reaffirmed yesterday on the BMO CHL Top 10 list. The second place slot is held by the Erie Otters with the Guelph Storm in third position.

OPINION A report has recently stated that the average cost of food will inflate near double its average annual rate. This does not include fresh produce and most animal proteins. The inflation for these products may t